Tug and trace coupling.



Patented Sept. 23, I902.

"No; 709,47l.

e A. m. came.

TUG AND TRACE COUPLING.

(Application filed Mar. 5, 1808.\

e (No Model.)

681,4i3, and my present invention has for its section of the same; Fig. 3, a section of the fered on the edges to hold therein slidingly a of the slideway at suitable distances apart UNITED STATES HATENT CFFICE.

ALEXANDER MONROE CRAIG, OF VVESTPOR'I, CANADA.

TUG AND TRACE COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 709,471, dated September 23, 1902. Application filed March 5, 1902. Serial No. 96,743. (No model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER MONROE CRAIG, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at \iVestport, in the county of Leeds, in the Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lugand Trace Couplings, of which the'following is a specification. My invention relates to improvements in trace-couplings, for which 'I have obtained Letters Patent of the United States hearing date the 27th day of August, 1901, numbered object to make a coupling more simple and effective in operation, to avoid puncturing, the trace, and thereby weakening it, and to perfect the locking connection to couple and uncouple. V

Myinvelition consists in certain features of. construction, which will be hereinafter described, and set forth in the claim.

Figure 1 is a plan of my improved tug and tracemembers coupled; Fig. 2, a longitudinal tug member on line 00 m, Fig. 1 Fig. 4;, a plan of the trace member inverted, and Fig. 5 a section of Fig. l on line y y. l

A is the tug member of the coupling, said member being a flat straight metal bar having at one end a loopA' to insert a trace (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) and transversely a loop A to receive the back-strap of aharness, which strap is perforated with a series of holes to engage a stud A to support the coupling, as described in my said patent. The other end of the tug member A has integrally a finger A to which the tugstrap (shownin dotted lines in Fig. 2) is riveted through holes A therein.

A is a single slideway'or channel extending longitudinally fromrnear the loops A A to near the finger A and is beveled or chamguide-lug hereinafter referred to.

A represents a series of elongated perforations in plate A correlative on opposite sides according to the desired degree of adjustment of the trace.

The trace member B of the coupling has holes B near one end to secure the trace thereto by rivets, and the other end has an enlarged head B dished on the under side, and a slot B in the upper face. Within the dished head W is journaled in bearings therein a rock-shaft B, having two radial tongues B extending downwardly therefrom to engage the perforations A in plate A, and upwardly said shaft has a thumb piece or lever B, which passes through the slot B and bent to be flush with the external surface of the head B to prevent accidents or untimely un' coupling.

B represents a pairof spiral springs wound around the rocleshaft to keep the tongues in the perforations A and to react the shaft after the tongues have been forcibly lifted out of the perforations, and when so disengaged the trace member is adjustable slid ingly on the tug member to lengthen or shorten the adjustment of the trace. To raise the thumb-lever from its flush position to uncouple, the trace is eased up by hand, so

that the tongues B will be pressed against the opposite end of the elongated perforations The thumb-lever B will then rise to a vertical position, so that it may be easily retained by the thumb while adjustment of the trace is being effected.

The underside of the enlarged head B has intermediately of the tongues a dovetail or flanged lug 13 which slides in the channel or slideway A and frictionally engages its chamfered edges to prevent disconnection While adjusting the trace. The plate A is depressed at the looped end, so that said lug and flanges may enter the termination of the slideway or channel for connection of the trace and tug members.

I claim as my invention In a tug and trace coupling, the combination of a tug member having alongitudinal slideway or channel and correlative perforations on opposite sides thereof, and a trace member having an enlarged head dished on the under side and containing a rock-shaft ha"- ing an elbow thumb-lever projecting through said head and flush therewith, two tongues engaging said perforations in the tug memname to this specification inthe presence of her, and a guide-lug sliding in said channel two subscribing witnesses.

or slideway to hold the tu and trace memw bers connectedly, and a spring to keep said ALEXANDER MONROE CRAIG 5 tongues in coupling engagement with the tug Witnesses:

member, as set forth. A. E. BAKER,

In testimony whereof I have signed my W. J. MCOARNEY. 

